Leaked test footage handed to the Mirror showed flames leaping up a replica cladded wall within 10 minutes and reaching temperatures of more than 600C – 50 minutes quicker than the recommended guidelines.

The exercise was abandoned after 24 minutes over safety fears. But residents at the eight-storey X1 Eastbank block in Manchester were not told about the test until seven week later, when the Mirror approached them.

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Neighbour Nadia Elzenaty said: “We were not aware of this. I knew a lot of companies were testing this cladding after the fire at Grenfell. It is ­disappointing. X1 should have someone chasing this up.

“They have a duty of care. There are a lot of tenants in this building. I know it is expensive to fix but you cannot undo the damage of lives lost.”

Building regulations require a 60-minute fire protection barrier between ­apartments in a block.

In August 2017, Eastbank was found to have potentially dangerous cladding in a fire brigade ­inspection. But a blaze spread test was not carried out until 14 months later.

(Image: Mirror Online)

Emails seen by the Mirror show the Dubai-based testing firm told Forrest on November 15: “The assembly fire test was conducted today at our facility.

“Please be informed that the assembly did not meet the acceptable criteria stated in BR 135 classification standard [for fire performance of external thermal insulation].”

Forrest, which was in financial ­difficulty, did not pay for the test in full and two weeks later demanded the firm signed a NDA.

It wrote: “It’s a v simple ­document, it merely says that you won’t pass details of the test on to 3rd parties.”

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A representative of the testing firm replied: “Why is this required if Forrest is taking the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the building and its residents?

“Signing the NDA blind would then implicate me in any cover up … I am not prepared to allow the people living in that building to be exposed to that kind of risk.”

A Forrest employee replied on December 2 that 'unless the NDA is signed we are reluctant to pay it. That’s the position of our main board not me personally'.

Nick Sweeney, chief executive officer at X1 Developments, which owns the property, confirmed his firm knew the test had taken place and had been 'made aware' of the ­preliminary findings received by Forrest.

(Image: Mirror Online)

He said Forrest had 'indicated that the [cladding] assembly did not meet the BR 135 classification' but had not handed over the test report.

Mr Sweeney insisted additional fire safety measures were put in place when the cladding was first identified, including a 'waking watch' to alert tenants to evacuate a fire. He said the building was 'safe and habitable'.

He added: “We’ve been awaiting the final report so we can then consider what works are required to the building.

“X1 have received a preliminary statement from Forrest but the draft report had not been provided to X1 prior to you providing the redacted version of the draft report.

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“We are meeting our professional team to discuss its contents and we will be putting in place such ­remediation strategy as is necessary.

“X1 has delivered letters via email and through a hand delivery through each door informing the residents that the cladding system is being tested and informing them of the enhanced fire safety which has been adopted.

“X1 has agreed an enhanced fire strategy with the fire officer which will remain until the testing has been completed and if required any ­remedial works undertaken.

“X1 was not aware of the emails between Forrest and [the testing company] nor of the NDA. The NDA is irrelevant to X1 as we will not be bound by it and will be providing, as we have done to date, full ­information we hold to both the fire officer and the government department.”

Since being contacted by the Mirror, X1 has announced it 'will be removing the cladding which is affixed to part of the exterior of the building and replacing it with a new system'.

The administrators of Forrest would not comment.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said Eastbank was inspected in 2017 and the ­cladding was 'considered to present a risk of external fire spread'.

A spokesman added: “A change to the evacuation strategy was agreed. A number of actions were agreed including the provision of a waking watch in line with guidance from the Government and this was ­implemented immediately.”

The fire service will now 'monitor plans to remove and replace the cladding'.